The Story of Us (Cinderella's Panty)

Chapter 31: Fairy Tale

Chapter 31: Fairy Tale

"I think I love you, Cindy. I f*cking love you, baby..."

"N-nile.." I gasped. Anong sasabihin ko? I was lost at parang siya ay ganoon din.

His eyes suddenly widened . Para siya mismo ay hindi makapaniwala sa mga salitang lumabas mula sa bibig niya. But after a fraction of a second he face lit up and his eyes danced with bewilderment and glee. "Yes, Cindy. I think... no I'm sure that for the first time in my life, in my shallow existence... I finally fell ... I fell for you ... I love you, Cinderella."

He said that he loves me and he eas sure of it.

The f*ck.

My heart was beating like there's no tomorrow.

I saw fireworks.

He said that he loves me.

The f*ck.

I felt butterflies dancing inside my stomach.

He said that he loves me.

The f*ck.

I felt voltage of electricity rushing through my veins.

He said that he loves me.

But the f*ck.

My heart ached.

Ang sakit.

My world collapsed.

Masaya ako. Masaya ako na malaman na ang taong mahal ko ay mahal din ako. Na pareho kami ng nararamdaman sa isa't-isa pero masakit. Masakit kasi kahit mahal niya ako at mahal ko siya ay hindi kami pwedeng dalawa dahil may taong masasaktan.

Kung kagabi ay sobrang sakit na ng ginawa kong desisyon na layuan siya ngayon ay dumoble ang nararamdaman ko. Now that I know that he loves me too and yet we could never be. Parang pinililipit ang puso ko.

I never thought that I could feel happiness and pain at the same time. Oh no. I could not. This is too much for me. These feelings are so overwhelming. Para akong mababaliw. Nanunubig ang mga mata ko pero gusto kong tumawa ng malakas.

Nang makatakas ang isang butil ng luha sa aking mga mata ay hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili ko. I cried and laughed at the same time. I almost sank on the ground pero mabuti na lang at nagawa niya akong hawakan bago bumigay ang aking mga tuhod.

"Hey, baby. Please don't cry," he softly said while he was wiping my tears with his hand. "And don't laugh, too. You're quickly destroying my ego."

Gusto ko tumigil sa pag-iyak at pagtawa pero parang may sariling isip ang mga luha ko dahil ayaw nilang huminto sa pag-agos at ang lalamunan ko ay ayaw kumalma. I think my limbic system was malfunctioning. Hindi ba dapat kung masaya, masaya lang? Hindi ba dapat kung nasasaktan ay nasasaktan lang?

Napailing na lang ako at nagpatuloy sa kabaliwan ko.

"Oh gods," Nile muttered before he enclosed me into a tight embrace.

Hindi ako nangtangkang lumayo sa kanya. I let him hug me and I let myself feel his comforting arms. Kahit ngayon lang, kahit sa huling pagkakataon ay pipiliin ko muna ang mali. Isinandal ko ang pisngi ko sa dibdib niya at ipinulupot ko ang mga braso ko sa bewang niya habang siya ay paulit-ulit na hinahalikan ang buhok ko.

"Are you okay now?" Tanong ni Nile nang sa wakas ay humupa na ang tawa ko. Even my tears had already subsided.

Bahagya akong tumango. His chest moved againts my cheeks. He heaved a long sigh of relief.